US5174762A - Circuit board adapter for computer system - Google Patents
Circuit board adapter for computer system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5174762A US5174762A US07/786,436 US78643691A US5174762A US 5174762 A US5174762 A US 5174762A US 78643691 A US78643691 A US 78643691A US 5174762 A US5174762 A US 5174762A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- adapter
- circuit board
- option
- computer system
- removal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/14—Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
- H05K7/1422—Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
- H05K7/1427—Housings
- H05K7/1429—Housings for circuits carrying a CPU and adapted to receive expansion cards
Definitions
- This invention relates to electrical connection systems in computers. More particularly, the invention relates to systems for connecting optional circuit boards into a computer.
- ISA circuit boards are compatible with the IBM PC, IBM PC/XT and IBM PC/AT personal computers developed by International Business Machines, Inc. and other personal computers compatible with those IBM computers.
- EISA Extended Industry Standard Architecture
- the EISA architecture is a superset of ISA. EISA compatible computers will accept ISA circuit boards but EISA compatible computers have additional performance and features for circuit boards designed to take advantage of EISA.
- MicroChannel Architecture The MicroChannel Architecture is the design used by most of the IBM PS/2 family of computers.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art circuit board compatible with EISA mechanical requirements.
- the circuit board 100 has edge connector fingers 102 for inserting into a connector.
- a sheet metal bracket 104 has a hole 106 for fastening to a computer with a screw (not illustrated).
- FIG. 2 illustrates a typical prior art computer designed to accommodate industry standard add-on circuit boards such as the EISA circuit board illustrated in FIG. 1.
- a cover 202 has been separated from chassis 200 for visibility.
- the computer has a base system circuit board 204 (often called a "mother board") for interconnecting secondary circuit boards 100 (often called “daughter boards”).
- Daughter boards compatible with the above standards have electrical connecting fingers along one edge (as illustrated in FIG. 1) and the mother board has a compatible connector 206 (FIG. 2) for accepting the daughter board edge fingers.
- Metal bracket 104 is attached to a metal shelf 208 by a screw (not illustrated) through a bracket hole 106. The metal bracket 104 fills an opening in the back of the computer housing.
- the daughter board 100 may have connectors which protrude through the metal bracket 104 for external cables.
- the circuit board To remove or insert a circuit board with edge connector fingers, the circuit board must be moved in the direction of the edge connector fingers, as illustrated by arrow 210 in FIG. 2. External cables must be removed to permit the metal bracket 104 and connectors to clear other parts of the computer enclosure. Insertion and removal of daughter boards also usually requires removal of a computer housing cover 202 as illustrated in FIG. 2. This usually requires removal of multiple cover fasteners. Removal of the computer cover 202 potentially exposes the user to hazardous voltages. Removal of the cover also exposes critical system components to potential damage from electro-static discharge (ESD).
- ESD electro-static discharge
- the height of the computer housing must be greater than the length of the standard metal bracket for industry standard daughter boards.
- the computer cannot easily be made lower in height without sacrificing compatibility with many add-on daughter boards or without sacrificing ease of removal of add-on daughter boards.
- the present invention improves computer system mechanical design by providing a convenient system for adding and removing circuit boards to the computer system without having to remove the entire cover for the computer system.
- the computer system in the present invention also provides a convenient system for adding circuit boards meeting one industry standard for physical dimensions and electrical connections into a computer system which requires a different standard for circuit board physical dimensions and electrical connections.
- the present invention comprises a computer housing with openings in the back and an adapter assembly which can be inserted and removed through an opening in the back.
- the adapter assembly has an adapter circuit board which meets the electrical and physical requirements of the host computer system.
- the adapter assembly provides a additional connector which permits an optional circuit board to be mounted perpendicular to the adapter circuit board.
- the adapter circuit board provides circuitry to adapt the electrical signals required by the computer system to the electrical signals required by the option board. Mounting the option circuit board perpendicular to the adapter circuit board allows the physical dimensions of the option circuit board to be different than the physical dimensions of the host computer system boards.
- a metal plate provides radio frequency interference (RFI) protection, mechanical support for both the adapter circuit board and the optional circuit board and also serves as a portion of the back of the computer system.
- RFID radio frequency interference
- the entire assembly of adapter circuit board, optional circuit board and metal plate can be inserted or removed through the back of the computer system without removal of the computer system cover. External signal cables may remain attached during insertion and removal of the assembly.
- FIG. 1 is a mechanical perspective illustration of a circuit board compatible with the EISA standard (prior art).
- FIG. 2 is a mechanical perspective view illustrating a prior art host computer containing an add-on circuit board.
- FIG. 3 is a mechanical perspective rear view illustrating a computer chassis and adapter assembly comprising the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a mechanical perspective view of the adapter assembly illustrating additional detail.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a mechanical perspective rear view of the chassis of the host computer system and the adapter assembly comprising the present invention.
- a chassis 300 provides a framework for mounting various components.
- a power supply 302 is mounted in one corner as shown.
- the adapter assembly 310 is comprised of an adapter circuit board 312, an option circuit board 100, and an adapter plate 316.
- the option circuit board 100 has edge connector fingers (as illustrated in FIG. 1) inserted into connector 315 which is mounted on adapter circuit board 312.
- the adapter plate 316 has a channel 318 protruding toward the option circuit board 100.
- the option circuit board 100 has a metal bracket 106 (as illustrated in FIG. 1) which is attached to the channel 318 and covers a hole in the channel 318.
- the adapter assembly 310 is inserted into the chassis 300 by guiding the adapter circuit board 312 edges into chassis circuit board guides 320, 322 and by guiding the option board 100 top edge into a notch 324 in the chassis 300.
- the adapter circuit board 312 has a connector 326 which mates with a corresponding chassis connector 328 when the adapter assembly 310 is fully inserted.
- the adapter plate 316 covers the power supply 302.
- the adapter plate is secured to the chassis 300 by four thumb screws (not illustrated) passing through the adapter plate mounting holes 330, 332, 334, 336 and into chassis mounting holes 340, 342, 344, 346.
- the adapter plate 316 provides mechanical support, suppression of radio frequency interference and serves as a cover for a portion of the back of the chassis 300.
- a handle 350 facilitates insertion and removal of the adapter assembly.
- the entire adapter assembly consisting of adapter circuit board 312, option circuit board 100 and adapter plate 316 can be inserted and removed through the rear of the chassis 300 without removal of any system covers and without removal of attached cables.
- the adapter assembly 310 contains a single option circuit board 100.
- adapter circuit board 312 may be designed with multiple connectors to hold multiple option circuit boards.
- FIG. 4 is a different perspective view of the adapter assembly 310.
- the adapter assembly main parts are adapter circuit board 312, option circuit board 100, and adapter plate 316.
- the option circuit board plugs into connector 315 which is attached to the adapter circuit board 312.
- Connector 326 provides electrical connection between the adapter circuit board 312 and the host computer.
- Adapter circuit board 312 contains circuitry necessary to translate host computer electrical signals and power as required at connector 326 to optional circuit board signals and power as required at connector 315.
- the host computer is EISA compatible. Therefore, the adapter circuit board 312 only needs to provide passive electrical connections for optional circuit boards meeting the ISA or EISA standards. Optional circuit boards designed to meet the MicroChannel standard would require active signal translation by the adapter circuit board 312.
- option circuit board 100 is a circuit board corresponding to the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) standard for personal computers.
- Adapter circuit board 312 and adapter plate 316 as illustrated can accommodate any one EISA circuit board, such as for example, a network adapter circuit board or a peripheral I/O control circuit board.
- EISA compatible circuit boards have a metal bracket on one end which provides mechanical support.
- the metal bracket 104 is a standard EISA bracket attached to option circuit board 100.
- the metal bracket 104 (with any corresponding connectors) is accessible through an opening (hidden in FIG. 4), in the bottom of the channel 318.
- the metal bracket 104 is attached to an end of the channel 318 by a screw (not illustrated) through hole 106.
- the present invention improves computer system mechanical design by providing a convenient system for adding and removing circuit boards to the computer system without having to remove the entire cover for the computer system.
- the computer system in the present invention also provides a convenient system for adding circuit boards meeting one industry standard for physical dimensions and electrical connections into a computer system which requires a different standard for circuit board physical dimensions and electrical connections.
Abstract
Description
Claims (1)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/786,436 US5174762A (en) | 1991-11-01 | 1991-11-01 | Circuit board adapter for computer system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/786,436 US5174762A (en) | 1991-11-01 | 1991-11-01 | Circuit board adapter for computer system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5174762A true US5174762A (en) | 1992-12-29 |
Family
ID=25138570
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/786,436 Expired - Lifetime US5174762A (en) | 1991-11-01 | 1991-11-01 | Circuit board adapter for computer system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US5174762A (en) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5338214A (en) * | 1992-10-27 | 1994-08-16 | Steffes Karl M | Expansion card/riser card module for desktop computers |
US5337464A (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-08-16 | Dell U.S.A., L.P. | Method of convertibly upgrading a personal computer |
US5454081A (en) * | 1992-08-28 | 1995-09-26 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Expansion bus type determination apparatus |
US5572400A (en) * | 1994-09-28 | 1996-11-05 | Hewlett-Packard Co. | Printed circuit board form factor and mounting concept for computer or workstation input and output |
US5655106A (en) * | 1991-06-10 | 1997-08-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Personal computer with riser connector for expansion bus and alternate master |
US5761447A (en) * | 1994-02-16 | 1998-06-02 | International Business Machines Corp. | Adaptor connection apparatus for simultaneously connecting a plurality of adaptors to diverse bus architectures |
US5812801A (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 1998-09-22 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Apparatus and method for implementing an alternate bus standard in a computer system not designed for the alternate bus standard |
US5868519A (en) * | 1996-11-18 | 1999-02-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Backbracket thumbscrew assembly |
US5962835A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 1999-10-05 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Board adapter |
US5961618A (en) * | 1995-07-07 | 1999-10-05 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Dual-bus riser card for an expansion slot |
US6079620A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 2000-06-27 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Board adapter |
US6301099B1 (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 2001-10-09 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Computer having option card module latching and drive bay pivot structures |
WO2002021888A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-14 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Printed circuit card carrier for longitudinal on-line replacement |
EP2034386A1 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-11 | Digital-Logic AG | Computer housing with plug-in card module |
US7985375B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2011-07-26 | Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc. | Sample preparation system and method for processing clinical specimens |
US20110298342A1 (en) * | 2010-06-02 | 2011-12-08 | Li Shin-Jau | Front removable expansion card module strcuture |
US8703492B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2014-04-22 | Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc. | Open platform hybrid manual-automated sample processing system |
US9953141B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2018-04-24 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Laboratory central control unit method and system |
US20180183183A1 (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2018-06-28 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Bi-directional cable interconnect system |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2864977A (en) * | 1953-10-14 | 1958-12-16 | Richard P Witt | Plug-in packages |
US2954485A (en) * | 1956-12-24 | 1960-09-27 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Transistor binary counters with fast carry |
US3736471A (en) * | 1970-11-18 | 1973-05-29 | I Honeywell Bull Soc | Assemblage element for functional unit with card connector means |
-
1991
- 1991-11-01 US US07/786,436 patent/US5174762A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2864977A (en) * | 1953-10-14 | 1958-12-16 | Richard P Witt | Plug-in packages |
US2954485A (en) * | 1956-12-24 | 1960-09-27 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Transistor binary counters with fast carry |
US3736471A (en) * | 1970-11-18 | 1973-05-29 | I Honeywell Bull Soc | Assemblage element for functional unit with card connector means |
Cited By (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5655106A (en) * | 1991-06-10 | 1997-08-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Personal computer with riser connector for expansion bus and alternate master |
US5454081A (en) * | 1992-08-28 | 1995-09-26 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Expansion bus type determination apparatus |
US5338214A (en) * | 1992-10-27 | 1994-08-16 | Steffes Karl M | Expansion card/riser card module for desktop computers |
US5337464A (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-08-16 | Dell U.S.A., L.P. | Method of convertibly upgrading a personal computer |
US5761447A (en) * | 1994-02-16 | 1998-06-02 | International Business Machines Corp. | Adaptor connection apparatus for simultaneously connecting a plurality of adaptors to diverse bus architectures |
US5572400A (en) * | 1994-09-28 | 1996-11-05 | Hewlett-Packard Co. | Printed circuit board form factor and mounting concept for computer or workstation input and output |
US5961618A (en) * | 1995-07-07 | 1999-10-05 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Dual-bus riser card for an expansion slot |
US5812801A (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 1998-09-22 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Apparatus and method for implementing an alternate bus standard in a computer system not designed for the alternate bus standard |
US5868519A (en) * | 1996-11-18 | 1999-02-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Backbracket thumbscrew assembly |
US5962835A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 1999-10-05 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Board adapter |
US6079620A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 2000-06-27 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Board adapter |
US6661654B2 (en) | 1998-04-14 | 2003-12-09 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Computer having option card module latching and drive bay pivot structures |
US6301099B1 (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 2001-10-09 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Computer having option card module latching and drive bay pivot structures |
WO2002021888A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-14 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Printed circuit card carrier for longitudinal on-line replacement |
US7985375B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2011-07-26 | Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc. | Sample preparation system and method for processing clinical specimens |
US8703492B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2014-04-22 | Qiagen Gaithersburg, Inc. | Open platform hybrid manual-automated sample processing system |
US9476895B2 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2016-10-25 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Open platform automated sample processing system |
EP2034386A1 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-11 | Digital-Logic AG | Computer housing with plug-in card module |
US20090067126A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-12 | Digital-Logic Ag | Computer housing with plug-in card module |
US7706147B2 (en) | 2007-09-07 | 2010-04-27 | Digital-Logic Ag | Computer housing with plug-in card module |
US9953141B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2018-04-24 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Laboratory central control unit method and system |
US11355220B2 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2022-06-07 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Laboratory central control unit method and system |
US20110298342A1 (en) * | 2010-06-02 | 2011-12-08 | Li Shin-Jau | Front removable expansion card module strcuture |
US20180183183A1 (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2018-06-28 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Bi-directional cable interconnect system |
US10084262B2 (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2018-09-25 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Bi-directional cable interconnect system |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY, A CORP. OF CA, CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:HOPPAL, JOHN P.;ROESNER, ARLEN L.;REEL/FRAME:006158/0677 Effective date: 19911115 |
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STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
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FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY, COLORADO Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:011523/0469 Effective date: 19980520 |
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FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |